Closing Out October

I will start with my NSV (Non Scale Victory) of the week.  Here are side by sides of two of my school pictures.  The first is from 2008-2009.  This was the year I decided to have weight loss surgery.  The second is from just a few weeks ago.  It takes these types of pictures for me to really notice what has really happened in my world.   This is what losing 116 pounds looks like. I also cannot believe how much younger I appear.  Am I really almost 39? 

Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I actually see a resemblance to my sister now.   Sandy and I have always favored different sides of the family, she my mom's side, I my dad's side.  Now I am seeing a resemblance between the two of us.

In other news, it took 10 weeks, but I finally lost another pound.  I am now down to 241.  I hope it doesn't take another 10 weeks to lose another measly pound.  It is getting frustrating working my tush to the bone and getting nowhere on the scale.  I am still getting up each morning to work out on the elliptical.  And I am still taking runs/walks through the neighborhood.  I continue to go to water aerobics Tuesdays and Thursdays, even though this week I was fighting a sinus infections and thought it better not to go.

A little, sweet story about the elliptical, well not about the elliptical but anyway.  The other evening my husband asks if I would be attending my weight loss surgery support group that evening.  I was super tired but told him that I needed to go.  When I asked why he said it would determine the course of events for his evening.  My brother calls with a family emergency/dilemma (that's a whole different blog!).   I did not notice my husband disappear.  I go off and return from support group later that evening.  I had completely forgot about my husband and his events.

The next morning, I go down to the basement for my daily workout.  Now, I remember leaving the basement light on.  When I opened the door, it was off.  Those who know me, know I am now a little uneasy.  I get to the bottom of the stairs and there is a red light glowing across the room.  Now I am freaked out.  I turn on the light and there sits a new HDTV.  Not a big expensive one.  A just right TV to watch my favorite shows in HD while working out.  I return upstairs to thank him and to tell him he shouldn't have spent the money on me.  He then says he just wanted me to know how proud he was of me.  I went to get in my shower and cried.  He has been very supportive of me throughout this whole process.  He has not tried to sabotage my efforts, nor has he fussed at me when I have fallen off the wagon.  But it was this one gesture of being proud that really proved this journey has been worth every mile.

My walks/runs are not as often as I like, depending on the weather and the health of my two boys.  We have all been fighting sinus infections the last week.  I am finding my stamina is increasing.  I am able to run farther each time.  It is also getting easier to run uphill.  I am not very graceful at it, but it is doable.

A shout out to Melissa, my water aerobics instructor.  She continues to kick butt!  My butt specifically.  But I totally love it!  I attend the Tuesday and Thursday deep water classes down at the West Gwinnett Aquatic Center.  She teaches the 6:10 and 7:10 evening classes.   Totally worth the $5.

9 Month Check Up

I saw Macik for my nine month checkup today.  It actually went well.  The appointment began with his nurse asking questions and wanting to know if I had any concerns.  I told her my main concern was that the scale has not moved significantly in 8 weeks.  I have been up and down a six pound range since the first week of school.  She then asked about my exercise.  I explained to her everything I was doing.  She then asked about my food choices.  I gave her a list of my staples, and we talked about not being 100% compliant.  I showed her my GoWear Fit and explained on heavy exercise days I am burning upwards of 3000 calories.  I also explained that compliant or not I am not eating 3000 calories of food, which is what it would take to maintain my current weight and exercise.   She seems to think I need to add in more calories, but make them pure protein.  She also recommended I cut the carbs to jumpstart the stall. 

When Dr. Macik came in, he did not harp on how much weight I have lost and how much time has passed.  He looked at me and said it is about becoming healthy.  The fact that I am doing physical things I have not done in years or ever is a great improvement on top of the fact that I am no longer on any diabetes or blood pressure meds.  It was a very pleasant appointment.

In GREAT news, my mammogram came back clean with no new growth!  The tech told me unless I find any changes I do not need to return until I turn 40 for a regular scan.  Woohoo!

I made it to the basement this morning for the elliptical workout, but did not go on my walk/run this evening.  I am quite sore this evening from the tennis outing yesterday. 

Sunday With My Family

Today, Mark and I took Ian down to the neighborhood park to play tennis.  We were down there for almost an hour playing.  We purchased tennis rackets at the beginning of the summer, but it was so hot we never went down after our first trip.  Now that the weather is more agreeable, we will go more often.   According to Livestrong, at my current weight 242, I could burn 772 calories playing tennis.  According to Obesity Help, the number is more like 707.  I think for the type of exercising we were doing today, I am not going to count it that high.  I will be a little more conservative and say 450 calories.  Regardless, that is a good burn for 55 minutes of work!

I haven't put my meals into Daily Plate today, but here is what I have eaten:

1/3 Cobb Salad from Georgia Diner (I ate all the chicken throughout breakfast and lunch) - 27g protein
Peanut Butter and Whole Wheat Club Crackers - 7g protein
Chicken and Broccoli no rice(China Cafe) - 30g protein

Before going to bed I will have - Dannon Greek Yogurt - 12g protein

I see Dr. Macik tomorrow for my 9 month checkup.  I will update tomorrow night.  

Thursday, Doesn't Even Start

No particular reason for the blog title.  I just like the song. 

This week has been busy, but I am continuing my walk/run training.  Yesterday, I took Ian out with me to walk/run around the neighborhood.  For once, my son had a hard time keeping up with me!  Usually, I am trying to keep up with him!  Melissa continues to kick butt at water aerobics.  The last two mornings I have not made it down to work out on the elliptical.  Mostly because my thighs are aching first thing in the morning. 

I think I have solved part of my hunger issues. I fell back into a very bad habit of drinking with my meals.  It is the one rule I find the most difficult.  The last few days I have been super cautious and avoid beverages for at least 30 minutes after a meal.  It is helping with the hunger in my body.  Now it does not stop the head hunger, but now when the head hunger hits, if I take a bite of something, I am instantly full.  This is good. 

The scale continues to fight me.  It is back up again to 247 after hitting 242 last week.  Mathematically, with the amount of exercise I do and the amount of calories I am consuming, this is just impossible.  I am starting to get discouraged, but I chug along.  I cannot let the scale derail my efforts to be the healthiest I can be.  However, my surgeon will be disappointed come Monday morning.  He seems to look at the scale more than anything else.  I am trying to look at myself as an entire person. 

Here are my meals for yesterday and today. 

Monday, Monday

I have been MIA for the last few days because my husband's family had a reunion down in Macon this weekend.  With that happening I spent Thursday and Friday completing course assignments and laundry.  However, I did get my workouts in last week.  Thursday night, Melissa kicked butt in water aerobics.  I LOVE when she keeps us moving.  Friday morning after my endocrinologist's appointment, I checked out the running/walking path out at Shorty Howell Park.  I continued my walking/running interval training. 

This week started off well.  I was able to get downstairs this morning for my usual elliptical workout.  This evening I went for my walk/run.  I was able to go much farther running tonight.  Since I try to make sure I walk/run for 30 minutes, I had to add some acreage to the path.  It was nice adding the extra 1/4 mile to my route. 

As for food, this week has started out rough.  I am not eating poorly (except the Snickers before car rider duty this afternoon).  I am just HUNGRY!  I need the hunger to subside.  I know it is all in my head, and I need to get in more protein.   Here is what I had today.